Vic 20 games doesn't start or crashes after last firmware upgrade

[lroby74]

Hello, after last firmware upgrade (actually version ATH160910) some Vic20 expanded games doesn't works anymore (my VIC configuration is always 32kb).

A pair of titles are "Critters.prg" and "popeye.prg" (2015 version), both works perfectly on Winvice emulator on my pc.

something is wrong on last firmware about compatibility of games with Vic 20 core?

(I have 2 different Mist, one on SCART and other one with VGA monitor, it's same thing on both units)

Thank you very much Roberto

[harbaum]

These games were working before the firmware upgrade? Which firmware did you use before?

[lroby74]

Yes, i played to them with previous firmware, i don't remember exact version of previous firmware but was last one before this one

2016-11-14 9:03 GMT+01:00 Till Harbaum notifications@github.com:

These games were working before the firmware upgrade? Which firmware did you use before?

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[juri74]

lroby74 gave me the two files and i tested them with follow firmwares: 160910 = not working 160721 = not working 160626 = not working one may 2016 release = not working (sorry do not remember what may version i used :P ) 160123 = not working unfortunately i've not time to test ALL firmware releases, i'm not fpga language expert but i suspect the problem is in the vic20 core not the firmware... maybe some really talented one could have a look at the Vic20 core... latest one is TWO years old O_O

[harbaum]

So one of you is sure that it's a firmware change that broke the vic20 but doesn't know which exact version does work. And the other one claimed it never worked at all.

That'll be hard to debug :-)

Anyway, i'll see what i can do.

[lroby74]

Honestly i tried Critters only one time and that time has worked (but it may be only luck)...

from second time it never worked anymore..

i think that Juri74 with his many tried has lighted situation.. problem is bugged and very old Vic20 core :(

2016-11-14 11:35 GMT+01:00 Till Harbaum notifications@github.com:

So one of you is sure that it's a firmware change that broke the vic20 but doesn't know which exact version does work. And the other one claimed it never worked at all.

That'll be hard to debug :-)

Anyway, i'll see what i can do.

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[harbaum]

The FPGA world is small. Much smaller than e.g PC emulator world. Thus there are also way less FPGA developers. As a result some things happen slower in FPGA world. But things are getting better with every new MIST owner.

Is there something that the non/bad-working games have in common?

[harbaum]

I doubt the firmware version has anything to do with this. The firmware has very little impact on the target machine.

[lroby74]

That i know, a common thing is that both games requires more ram (8K for Critters and 32kb for Popeye)

2016-11-14 12:28 GMT+01:00 Till Harbaum notifications@github.com:

The FPGA world is small. Much smaller than e.g PC emulator world. Thus there are also way less FPGA developers. As a result some things happen slower in FPGA world. But things are getting better with every new MIST owner.

Is there something that the non/bad-working games have in common?

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[lroby74]

At this point i think same thing , firmware is not problem.. .core is... bugged

2016-11-14 12:30 GMT+01:00 Till Harbaum notifications@github.com:

I doubt the firmware version has anything to do with this. The firmware has very little impact on the target machine.

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[harbaum]

It's not necessarily "bugged". Often it's that a machines hardware has some undocumented side effects then doing things in an unusual way. E.g. on many machines identical portions of ram and rom show up on different places. This is called mirroring and happens when the HW developer tries to save a few gates here and there. And if some software relies on this undocumented behaviour which may not be present in a re-designed system then ... boom ...

As i said, i'll have a look.

[lroby74]

Thank you for you help

[lroby74]

Hello everybody, some news ? :(

[harbaum]

I was a little busy the last time. I hope to find some time for this, soon.

[lroby74]

Don't worry and thank you :)

2016-12-12 15:00 GMT+01:00 Till Harbaum notifications@github.com:

I was a little busy the last time. I hope to find some time for this, soon.

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[lroby74]

Hello again, sometimes i write here hopefully of good news about Vic 20 core :)

[harbaum]

The vic20 has vastly been improved and many, many games and even demos now run.